Southwold Pier

Southwold pier has remained a popular spot for many generations

Southwold is a popular destination for the many visitors to the East Coast and its most prominent attraction, the pier, hosts a wide range of things to see and do.
The innovative water clock was designed by Tim Hunkin and its cheeky design is sure to entertain on the hour. As well as this there are cafés, restaurants, shops and an arcade, certainly enough to keep the whole family busy for the whole day.

The pier and its history are closely connected to that of Southwold. Its original use was, of course, practical – it was a landing stage for the steamships which arrived from London Bridge. In 1934, after the T-shaped landing stage had been swept away in a storm, the remaining part of the pier was transformed into amusement arcade and concert hall, and so the pier became a destination for those at rest rather than work.

The current length of the pier is 623m, the result of a restoration project which began in 1999 and completed in 2001. Today the pier is owned and run by Gough Hotels who are dedicated to providing an exciting and surprising experience for visitors here.

Tim Hunkin’s intriguing underwater shows are viewed via the quantum-tunnelling periscope at the end of the pier; a fascinating insight into the mix of old and new which make up the pier’s attractions.